Gameday Preview: Texas Stars v. Manitoba Moose

Texas Stars 18-11-3-1, 40 pts #4 Central Division

v.

Manitoba Moose 13-18-2-0, 28 pts #8 Central Division

January 5th at 7:00 PM

H-E-B Center at Cedar Park, Cedar Park, TX

Last night's contest was what you expect when the worst team in the league comes to visit a club on a then six game home winning streak: a solid win that was never in doubt. With that seventh home win in the bank, Texas looks for eight tonight against the exact same Moose squad.

Landon Bow, a key to the team's recent success, spoke on the streak last night after his 14th win of the season, "We’re just feeling it right now. It’s been a good little run here. We’re coming out at home and have a little more spark at the beginning, it seems. We’re not getting caught behind too often. That’s a key, when we can get up a goal and keep rolling from there."

Making sure Texas stays up a goal has been a big deal with Bow in the pipes. The young goalie is second in the league in wins and third in minutes played. His GAA is top 15 in the league, assisted by a big-time scoring from the skaters. The year that Texas needed Bow to have is happening right before our eyes. That step up to claim the starting job with absolutely no question hit this season.

(Credit: Andy Nietupski/Texas Stars)

"You see throughout the start of the season to now, he’s a much different goalie," said Laxdal last night. "This is his team, and he’s taking the ball and running with it. And that’s what we want him to do."

L'Esperance, last night's hero with two goals, was the one dishing out the typical back-to-back aphorisms, "Tomorrow’s gonna be a battle. They’re going to come out and push early in the game. We just gotta be ready."

A final note for those who are historically minded: the longest Texas home win streak is still a few games away. Twelve is the current record, set back in the Calder Cup year from November 23, 2013 to January 24th, 2014.

Stars injury/call up report:

Scarlett (season-ending ACL injury)

Fedun, Hintz, Condra (call up)